Did you know the average parent spends well over £230 a year on school uniform per child, excluding PE kit? The vast majority of this is made from synthetic materials so it’s hard wearing, washable and crease-resistant, and it’s replaced regularly as kids outgrow and wear out their clothes at breakneck speed. The staggering financial and environmental cost of children’s clothing is finally starting to hit the mainstream sustainable fashion movement, but how can we create an ecosystem of affordable, accessible, environmentally conscious clothing that parents and kids like?
Stating the obvious upfront, I do not have kids, nor am I a kid. In fact, I haven’t fit into kids clothing since I was about 11 (tall girl problems). But I regularly consider the echo chamber of the ethical fashion community and how parents are too often excluded from the conversation. From shaming fast fashion shoppers who simply need clothing for their growing kids, to our unwavering focus on ethical childrenswear brands that are way out of budget for the average family, it’s time to shift the narrative.
A couple of weeks back, I put my mask on (these Sabinna ones are my current favourite) and hopped on a train for a visit to ApparelXchange, a store in Glasgow’s St Enoch Centre selling second-hand clothing and school uniform for children aged around 5-16. ApparelXchange is a social enterprise founded by Izzie Eriksen in 2017, launched after Izzie explored options for creating a sustainable product and realised the most sustainable option would be to reuse, repair and resell preloved garments, creating a uniquely circular model for kidswear. Beyond just retail, ApparelXchange also offers repairs, workshops and skills exchanges in their sustainable childrenswear hub and in local schools. Plus, the project now spans UK wide, selling clothing and shoes for all ages and genders from their online shop, perfectly timed for pupils returning to schools across the country.
